Famous Among Top Surgeons in the 90s

Doctor Shao sighed, knowing that the physicians at his hospital had done their best, and said, "The patient's anastomosis is stenosed."

"So it's even harder to find," Yu Xuexian acknowledged from experience, "I guess the scope will be difficult to pass through. How many times has he undergone balloon dilation before?"

"Twice," Doctor Shao said.

Stenosis of the anastomosis, like an anastomotic leak, is a very challenging postoperative complication. The cause of stenosis is usually scar proliferation. Furthermore, the patient's usage of a feeding tube means there is no gastrointestinal motility, and the anastomosis is not mechanically expanded by the daily passage of food, which increases the likelihood of stenosis.

Even balloon dilation is difficult, indicating that the tissue growth at this stenosis site is likely very hard. Yu Xuexian's expression became more serious, understanding that the case would be tricky even before seeing the patient. While medicine might try to help, surgical intervention might ultimately be necessary.

The leak must be resolved. Having a feeding tube severely affects the patient's quality of life. When stepping out, it attracts spectators who gaze at them like they're a monster. This can lead to depression, further complicating the illness. Moreover, a feeding tube is only a temporary measure and cannot solve the severe nature of the leak. Small leaks are not clearly visible on a CT scan, requiring doctors to meticulously search with their eyes. And do not underestimate these small leaks; prolonged intestinal fluid leakage can slowly erode nearby organs, and if it erodes the trachea, it becomes extremely troublesome. Just imagine the consequences if there was an opening in the trachea.

The reason why thoracic surgery is considered one of the two major specialties can be discerned from these surgeries. In the thoracic region, the organs are in complex anatomical positions and are very deadly. The lungs and heart are related to the most basic physiological functions of life maintenance, breathing, and heartbeat. When risks arise, the urgency is high and rescue strategies are difficult.

They hurriedly walked to the digestive endoscopy room. Xie Wanying and the others had come from another hospital, needing to change into the visiting medical gowns provided by Xuanwu Hospital, which were also white coats, in the adjacent changing room.

The patient was lying inside the endoscopy room, having been premedicated into a drowsy state. Accompanying them were doctors and nurses, including an anesthesiologist preparing to administer IV anesthesia, and the patient's attending physician, who was a junior resident. There were also gastroenterology doctors from Xuanwu Hospital.

The medical students did not recognize the doctors from Xuanwu, unlike their teachers who frequently engaged in learning and exchanges with colleagues. Yu Xuexian quickly recognized who the gastroenterology person was upon entering; the individual looked familiar, and he realized it was Director Guan, the deputy director of the gastroenterology department at Xuanwu Hospital.

"Hello, Doctor Yu." Director Guan, being familiar with fellow gastroenterologists, greeted him with a smile.

"Why did Director Guan come personally?" Yu Xuexian asked. This patient wasn't a gastroenterology case, so there was no need for the deputy director to appear personally.

"I heard that Doctor Yu, your team, has a way. I've come to learn from you," Director Guan politely stated.

When faced with a problem they couldn't solve, and hearing from colleagues that there might be a solution, it's customary to come and observe, and perhaps learn the technique discreetly.

Yu Xuexian could guess their intentions, but the issue is that this plan might not work. This female academic star from their medical school was someone even their own Guoxie doctors couldn't learn from. It's doubtful that Director Guan could pick up the skills.

As the group spoke inside the room, they suddenly noticed that Doctor Shao and Wei Guoyuan, the two surgeons, had not come in.

Director Guan remembered something and informed Yu Xuexian and his team: "People from Guo Zhi Hospital have arrived."